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Raised in Ohio, Sherry Eppers went to an ice cream social held at the local fire station every summer. She calls it “a slice of Americana.”

When Highlands Ranch opened its first fire station in 1998, Eppers, community relations manager of the Highlands Ranch Metro District, brought the tradition to the community.

“We thought an ice cream social would be a fun way to celebrate all that our first responders do for the Highlands Ranch community,” Eppers said. “The inaugural event was so popular that the Littleton Fire chief at the time suggested we make it an annual event.”

Twenty years later, the event is still going strong.

This year, the evening of entertainment and all-you-can-eat ice cream and snow cones will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 11 at Civic Green Park, 9370 Ridgeline Blvd.

The cost is $2. Safeway provides the treats, which allows the metro district to donate all proceeds to a nonprofit. Since its inception, the ice cream social has raised more than $60,000 for organizations in the community.

This year, the money will go to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Fallen Officers Fund, a nonprofit for deputies who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty and their families.

The metro district selected the fund in light of Zackari Parrish, a deputy who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 31.

“We appreciate the services provided each and every day by law enforcement officers, fire fighters and paramedics,” Eppers said.

The evening includes a performance from memorable entertainer Paul Borrillo at 6:15 p.m., followed by a Jaws of Life demonstration by Littleton Fire Rescue at 6:45 p.m. Food trucks Mac 'N Noodles, Simply Pizza and Sokare, serving Mexican cuisine, will be on site.

The event embodies summer in Highlands Ranch, said Kari Larese, coordinator of the event.

“The event brings people together in a fun outdoor environment,” Larese said. “Firefighters, paramedics, sheriff's deputies, businesses, volunteers, community groups and families come together to have fun and learn about all that first responders do for our community.”

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